Staunton River State Park International Dark Sky Park ... · First Landing), Westmoreland, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, and Douthat State Parks on June 15, 1936. These original six

Staunton River State Park

International Dark Sky Park Silver Tier Application

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Table of Contents

Letters of Nomination and Support Molly J. Ward, Secretary of Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia………………………….…….3 Adam Layman, Park Manager, Staunton River State Park………………………………………………………….4 Jayme Hanzak, President, Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society, IDA Member…………...5 Tim Kaine, US Senate………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 Laura Greenleaf, Virginia IDA…………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 Raleigh Astronomy Club………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8 Richmond Astronomical Society……………………………………………………………………………………………...9 Carl Espy, Town Manager, Town of Halifax, Virginia………………………………………………………………....10 James Halasz, County Administrator, Halifax County, Virginia…………………………………………………..11 Nancy Pool, President, Halifax County Chamber of Commerce………………………………………………….12

Introduction to Staunton River State Park…………………………...………………………..……….13 Park Location and Map………………………………………………………………………………………..………...….16 IDSP Eligibility Criteria…………………………………………………………………………………….……….……...19 Sky Quality Survey…………………………………………………………………………………………………..………......20 SRSP Interpretive Programming and Outreach…………………………………………...………25 SRSP Lightscape Management Plan……………………………………………………………….…………...27 Lighting Inventory………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….…...…..46 SRSP Commitment to Dark Sky Preservation and Education………………...51 Press Releases………………………………………………………………………………………54 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………60

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December 29, 2014 Dear IDA Board of Directors, As a member of the International Dark-Sky Association, the President of the Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society (CHAOS) and the organizer of the Staunton River Star Party held at Staunton River State Park, I would like to nominate Staunton River State Park for Dark Park Status. Staunton River State Park offers some of the last remaining dark skies on the east coast. Uniquely geographically placed on the western-most point of Kerr Lake bordering Virginia and North Carolina, the park has managed to maintain dark skies. Light domes for surrounding municipalities are minimal on the horizons. The park's management has attended County and Town Commissioner meetings stressing the effects of light pollution and the need for proper lighting ordinances to protect the parks natural beauty and night skies. County Supervisors have ex-pressed a desire to enact light pollution mitigation ordinances from what they have learned from park staff presentations. The town of South Boston has also expressed the desire to follow suit. The enthusiasm of the park's management has not been limited to just the region of south central Virginia. Because of their enthusiasm and the high praises given to the staff by the attendees of the Staunton River Star Party, the efforts to preserve the night sky have reached to the capital, Richmond, Virginia. The State's Department of Parks and Recreation is now on board to begin a policy of installing dark sky friendly lighting in new facilities and explore the possibilities of converting exist-ing lighting as funds allow. As President of CHAOS, it has been a pleasure to work with the staff at Staunton River State Park to establish astronomical observing sessions over the summer and co-hosting the Staunton River Star Party. Working together, we are entering our fifth year of partnership. The Staunton River Star Party is becoming one the premier star parties on the east coast. This is because of the enthusi-asm of the park staff and their commitment to preserve the dark skies. During the October 2013 star party, average SQM readings of 21.18 and 21.32 were recorded on October 2 and 3 respec-tively. During the October 2014 event meter reading were as follows; October 22 - 20.98, Oct. 23 - 21.12 and Oct. 25 - 21.16. We have also installed a SQM-LE at the park for continues metering. Because of Staunton River State Park's commitment to preserve their wonderful night skies I wholeheartedly encourage the International Dark-Sky Association to grant Dark Park Status to Staunton River State Park. Jayme Hanzak President of CHAOS

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Introduction to Staunton River State Park Virginia was the first state to open a state park system in one day, opening Staunton River, Seashore (now First Landing), Westmoreland, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, and Douthat State Parks on June 15, 1936. These original six state parks were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and to this day carry on the CCC tradition by maintaining the historic structures built by CCC camps as well as telling their story during a pivotal time in American history. The area that now comprises Staunton River State Park was once part of the thriving Fork Plantation owned by HE Coleman in the early 1800’s. The cash crop for Southern Virginia was tobacco, and the area that is now the park was prime tobacco-producing land. The Fork Plantation was transferred to Richard Logan in 1839, and upon the conclusion of the Civil War, the plantation fell into ruins. The land was later purchased by JC Zimmerman who established the Christian Social Colony. According to records, nine or ten families made up the colony, which was an attempt at a Utopian communal society. Zimmerman and accompanying families originated from Wisconsin, and due to their lack of knowledge on farming practices for this area and climate, the Christian Social Colony failed after a short time. The land was purchased in 1933 by the State Commission of Conservation and Development from the John-son family. The original property consisted of 1196.5 acres bordered by the Staunton River to the North and Dan River to the South. A Civilian Conservation Corps camp was started in early 1935 to begin con-struction on the park. Original construction consisted of eight rental cabins, two picnic shelters, Visitor Center, swimming pool and bathhouse, and the superintendant’s residence, along with several hiking trails. As part of the Flood Control Act of 1944, the John H. Kerr Dam was authorized to be built in Boydton, Va., approximately 20 miles downstream from Staunton River State Park. Construction began in 1947. This flood controlling dam was built on the Roanoke River (referred to upstream as the Staunton River), and created the 50,000 acre John. H. Kerr Reservoir, also known as Buggs Island Lake. This lake spans the Vir-ginia-North Carolina border, and is the largest lake in Virginia. The formation of the lake flooded several hundred acres of Staunton River State Park, but also provided the park with prime access to the lake. In return, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the agency who manages the reservoir, leased approximately 500 acres of their property to the park to manage. The next major change to Staunton River State Park took place in 2005, when 1,007 acres of property adja-cent to the park were purchased by the Commonwealth of Virginia from James Edmunds. This property includes a log cabin situated on a 23 acre lake and another small pond, and the majority of the property is planted in intensively managed Loblolly Pine. A major milestone for Staunton River State Park was reached in 2007. It was at this time that the park was designated as both a National Historic Landmark as well as a Virginia Historic Landmark. The commitment to maintaining CCC structures and history played a great deal in these designations.

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April 16, 2011 is a date that will forever be linked to Staunton River State Park, as it was on this date that an EF-2 tornado tore through the central part of the park. Over 100 acres of forested land was flattened, the park contact station was destroyed, and significant damage was suffered by the district manager’s resi-dence and camping lodge. About 6 miles of multi-use trails that wound through the path of the tornado were completely destroyed as well. This destruction brought opportunity, however. The park was pre-sented with an excellent opportunity to interpret the forces of nature, as well as natural successional habi-tat as the flattened forests began to grow back. A change in habitat has also increased quail sightings in the park and has provided excellent feeding areas for eastern wild turkey and white-tailed deer.

Current Facilities Eight rental cabins—(4) 2-bedroom, (2) 1-bedroom, (2) efficiencies Three boat ramps—One on the Staunton River and two on the Dan River Five picnic shelters—Two original CCC shelters, three smaller shelters 48-site campground—14 standard sites, 34 with water and 30-amp electrical service, central bath-

house and dump station Pool complex—Olympic-sized swimming pool with a 70’ slide and another smaller slide, themed wad-

ing pool with floating play structures, concession stand with bathhouse and changing rooms Tennis and volleyball courts located adjacent to pool complex Visitor Center that houses Gift Shop, interpretive classroom, conference room, and park offices Equestrian Campground—13 sites with water and 20/30/50-amp electrical service, central bathhouse

and dump station, and 20 covered horse stalls District Office—houses three district staff members 18 miles of multi-use trails, and one trail under construction that will be ADA-accessible

Astronomy at Staunton River State Park Staunton River State Park was approached by members of the Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Soci-ety (CHAOS) in early 2010. They had found Staunton River State Park on a dark sky map when researching areas to observe and came up from North Carolina to have a look. They found exceptionally dark skies and a large field adjacent to the park Visitor Center with near 360° views of the horizon, making Staunton River an excellent place to observe the night skies. CHAOS members inquired about the possibility of overnight observing in the park, and sensing a tremendous opportunity, park staff offered to allow CHAOS members to camp for free and observe overnight in return for them presenting several astronomy programs to park guests during our summer season. These programs were tremendously successful, both in terms of num-bers of participants and guest feedback. In follow-up discussions between park staff and CHAOS, it was de-cided to continue this program for the 2011 season due to how successful the program was during its first year. During these discussions, CHAOS mentioned that Staunton River would be an excellent facility to

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host a star party. Dark skies, heated restrooms, hot showers, internet access, and a large observing field were just the amenities CHAOS was looking for. The inaugural Staunton River Star Party took place in September 2011 with 20 participants. The Staunton River Star Party is now held over a three-day weekend each March, and for an entire week each October. The October 2014 Star Party had over 140 astronomers attend, and was the most successful Star Party to date. Park staff now operate the concession stand for 22 hours a day during the Star Party, pool bathhouse restrooms are heated and open 24 hours a day with hot showers and clean restrooms, and internet and electrical access has been improved on the observing field. To keep this event aligned with the park’s com-mitment to natural resource interpretation and education, the Saturday night of each Star Party is open free to the public to come and mingle on the observing field with the astronomers and view the skies above. More information about the Staunton River Star Party can be found at: www.stauntonriver-starparty.org.

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Staunton River State Park is located in Halifax County, Virginia (indicated in red).

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Staunton River State Park Dark Sky Map

Staunton River State Park (map courtesy of www.blue-marble.de)

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International Dark Sky Park Eligibility Criteria The International Dark Sky Association has set forth the following criteria for Dark Sky Parks: 1. All protected public lands, whether managed by national, state, provincial, or local agencies, are

eligible. These may include parks, refuges, forests, wilderness areas, monuments, protected rivers, or other categories of protected lands. For this document, they are generically referred to as a “park.”

Staunton River State Park is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks. This bid for inclusion as a Dark Sky Park is for the entirety of Staunton River State Park.

2. The park must provide the opportunity for public nighttime access, with or without supervision.

Regular visitation by the public is essential to meet the goals of the IDSP program. A portion of designated land may meet this requirement, or access must be available for a portion of the night. In some cases, such as when working with areas that protect endangered wildlife, this require-ment may be adjusted.

Staunton River State Park offers ample opportunities for public observation of our night skies. Su-pervised activities include the Staunton River Star Party, astronomy and dark sky-related inter-pretive programming throughout the summer season, and special observing sessions scheduled around astronomical events.

Staunton River State Park also offers a “Share-a-Scope” program. Telescopes with lenses and night sky guides are available for use by overnight guests at no charge to observe our night skies.

Staunton River State Park will also allow unsupervised observation on our observing field for those that provide the park with 24 hours notice prior to their arrival.

3. The park must provide an exceptional dark sky resource, relative to the communities and cities

that surround it. Core night sky quality must fit in one of the three tier qualifications Gold, Silver, or Bronze.

The Sky Quality Survey in the next section will provide data that firmly places Staunton River State Park in the Silver Tier.

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Staunton River State Park Sky Quality Survey In December of 2014, Staunton River State Park staff and Jayme Hanzak, President of the Chapel Hill Astro-nomical Observational Society installed a permanent sky quality meter. The meter is a Unihedron SQM-LE, and is mounted on the Visitor Center, adjacent to the observing field. The meter is set to record every 10 seconds, and is hard-wired to a dedicated computer to record results. Sky Quality Meter Data:

Average Sky Quality Meter readings at Staunton River State Park are 21.20. This is from the permanently mounted SQM at the Visitor Center. Testing 12 points in the Park, average reading on the night of Decem-ber 18, 2014 was 21.16. The highest average reading in the campground was 21.33. Highest reading during a star party was 21.54.

Bortle Sky Scale:

Based on the Bortle Chart Scale and experiences of Staunton River Star Party attendees, the rating is be-tween 4 and 4.5. The Zodiacal light is easily seen in the west reaching high above the horizon. During Octo-ber, the Milky Way is easy to make out shortly after sunset. M33 is seen using averted vision during opti-mal nights but only near zenith. Limiting magnitude is about 6.2 on clear dry nights.

Report by: Jayme Hanzak President of Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society

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Sky Quality Meter Readings

December 18, 2014

Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Site 8 Site 9 Site 10 Site 11 Site 12

21.15 21.17 21.16 21.19 21.2 21.16 21.18 21.15 21.26 21.12 21.12 21.1

21.12 21.23 21.16 21.18 21.22 21.13 21.13 21.22 21.34 21.11 21.11 21.08

21.16 21.18 21.16 21.17 21.18 21.13 21.13 21.12 21.38 21.07 21.13 21.1

21.17 21.2 21.17 21.18 21.2 21.14 21.13 21.14 21.35 21.11 21.13 21.07

21.16 21.18 21.15 21.18 21.15 21.15 21.11 21.11 21.31 21.08 21.1 21.11

21.18 21.19 21.37 21.22 21.2 21.15 21.16 21.17 21.34 21.05 21.13 21.07

21.15 21.13 21.13 21.21 21.2 21.14 21.16 21.12 21.25 21.07 21.11 21.08

21.08 21.22 21.1 21.4 21.17 21.12 21.12 21.09 21.4 21.2 21.14 21.09

21.16 21.2 21.12 21.17 21.16 21.15 21.1 21.11 21.27 21.12 21.13 21.08

21.16 21.18 21.1 21.16 21.18 21.14 21.18 21.16 21.36 21.1 21.12 21.06

Averages:

21.15 21.19 21.16 21.21 21.19 21.14 21.14 21.14 21.33 21.10 21.12 21.08

The above readings were taken between 11:00pm and 1:00am on December 18, 2014. One meter reading was taken and recorded beginning at Site 1, then taken and recorded and Site 2, and so on. Once one read-ing was taken and recorded at all 12 sites, the second set, beginning back at site 1 was taken and recorded, until 10 readings had been taken at all 12 sites in successive order.

Overall park average: 21.16 Most readings were taken during mostly clear skies, but thin clouds rolled through during the last several readings at each location.

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Sky Quality Meter Readings

February 12, 2015

Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Site 8 Site 9 Site 10 Site 11 Site 12

21.4 21.41 21.32 21.41 21.34 21.26 21.33 21.43 21.44 21.44 21.49 21.5

21.38 21.42 21.42 21.32 21.39 21.43 21.4 21.47 21.49 21.45 21.48 21.52

21.5 21.49 21.37 21.31 21.34 21.39 21.38 21.4 21.44 21.45 21.45 21.46

21.43 21.49 21.4 21.37 21.24 21.38 21.41 21.44 21.42 21.54 21.47 21.47

21.46 21.46 21.34 21.39 21.43 21.26 21.44 21.43 21.46 21.43 21.44 21.56

21.41 21.45 21.41 21.29 21.24 21.38 21.4 21.47 21.39 21.54 21.52 21.55

21.35 21.45 21.39 21.44 21.35 21.42 21.4 21.44 21.48 21.51 21.55 21.49

21.4 21.47 21.41 21.41 21.35 21.46 21.4 21.44 21.47 21.44 21.57 21.51

21.42 21.48 21.36 21.32 21.24 21.43 21.42 21.52 21.44 21.49 21.61 21.49

21.46 21.47 21.34 21.34 21.27 21.37 21.47 21.5 21.45 21.48 21.59 21.52

Averages:

21.42 21.46 21.38 21.36 21.32 21.38 21.41 21.45 21.45 21.48 21.52 21.51

Overall park average: 21.43 All readings were taken under completely clear skies.

The above readings were taken between 10:00pm and 12:00am on February 12, 2015. One meter reading was taken and recorded beginning at Site 1, then taken and recorded at Site 2, and so on. Once one reading was taken and recorded at all 12 sites, the second set, beginning back at site 1 was taken and recorded, un-til 10 readings had been taken at all 12 sites in successive order.

Staunton River State Park staff will continuously monitor and evaluate sky quality meter readings to en-sure that our skies remain dark. Readings from our meter will be downloaded and compiled into a master spreadsheet for comparison and tracking purposes. Members of Chapel Hill Astronomical Observation Society will perform sky quality testing at the 12 sites outlined in this section on a quarterly basis. Results from this will be compiled and given to park staff for inclusion in sky quality meter records. Results of this continuous monitoring will be included in an annual report to the IDA.

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Sky Quality Measurement Locations

Site Location Site Location

1 Point 7 Observing Field

2 Cabin Field 8 Campground Entrance

3 Boat Storage Shed 9 Campground

4 Staunton River Boat Ramp 10 Picnic Area 2

5 Pool Parking Lot 11 Picnic Area 1

6 Tennis Courts 12 Below District Office

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Light Pollution and Bortle Scale The following image and text are used courtesy of www.cleardarksky.com. Information from this site was used in the development of the Staunton River State Park Sky Quality Survey. The location of Staunton River State Park is marked by the crosshairs in the center of the image.

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Staunton River State Park Interpretive Programming and Outreach Part of providing a quality experience to our guests is educating them on their surroundings and on why the conservation and preservation of the land that makes up SRSP is important. Education of the dark skies at SRSP and the importance of preserving them falls into this mission. SRSP hosts several dark sky programs throughout the year, and schedules special observing sessions based around significant astro-nomical events. The lists below outline our dark sky interpretive programming for 2014 and 2015. 2014 March 27—30: Staunton River Star Party

March 29: Star Party Public Night—observing session with Star Party participants, open to the pub-lic for free

June 6: Astronomy Night—Hosted by members of CHAOS, open to all park guests and the public July 11: Astronomy Night—Hosted by members of CHAOS, open to all park guests and the public August 18: Astronomy Night—Hosted by members of CHAOS, open to all park guests and the public October 20—26: Staunton River Star Party

October 25: Star Party Public Night—observing session with Star Party participants, open to the public for free

December 13: Geminid Meteor Shower Observing—open to all park guests and the public 2015 March 19—22: Staunton River Star Party

March 21: Star Party Public Night—observing session with Star Party participants, open to the pub-lic for free

April 25: Town of Halifax Earth Day Extravaganza—Park display will be themed around dark sky pres-ervation and will highlight observing in SRSP

June 19: Astronomy Night—Hosted by members of CHAOS, open to all park guests and the public July 17: Astronomy Night—Hosted by members of CHAOS, open to all park guests and the public August 21: Astronomy Night—Hosted by members of CHAOS, open to all park guests and the public October 12—18: Staunton River Star Party

October 17: Star Party Public Night—observing session with Star Party participants, open to the public for free

Additional public observing sessions will be scheduled around astronomical events (e.g., meteor show-

ers). Self-guided programming: Share-a-Scope Program—Thanks to a donation of 2 Newtonian-reflector

telescopes, park guests will be able to check out telescopes from the park Visitor Center (including eye-pieces, night sky charts, and a monthly sky chart) and view the skies on their own after an instruction session with park staff.

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Educational outreach during the Staunton River Star Party has grown to include programming in local communities. During the Spring 2015 Staunton River Star Party, the Town of Halifax will be assisting in promotion of the event and dark sky preservation by holding several unique opportunities on the day of the Star Party Public Observing Night. A planet walk is being setup throughout the historic downtown of Halifax to teach participants about our solar system, and the Halifax Public Library will be reading astron-omy-related stories on the same day. These events are made possible by collaboration with CHAOS, More-head Planetarium, and town leaders. This is just an example of how our educational outreach is expand-ing.

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Staunton River State Park Lightscape Management Plan 1. Introduction Staunton River State Park (SRSP) understands the importance of protecting views of the night sky. The night sky, like our forests, wildlife, soils, and water, is a natural resource that should be protected for future generations to experience and enjoy. Implementation of the correct dark sky friendly facility lighting will allow Staunton River State Park to provide a quality night sky viewing experience to our guests, as well as lessen the impacts of artificial lighting to the wildlife that calls SRSP home, reduce electrical consumption and operating costs, and continue to provide adequate lighting where needed to provide safety for our fa-cilities and guests. This document will serve as the guideline for current and future outdoor lighting management practices in SRSP. It will be used to maintain compliance for current lighting fixtures as well as to guide outdoor light-ing choices for future expansions in the park. This document will also serve as a template for Virginia State Parks for appropriate lighting in our state parks, as there are currently no departmental policies in place—our efforts have persuaded management to begin protecting our dark skies as the natural resource they are from this point forward. The SRSP Lightscape Management Plan has adopted the “Guidelines for Outdoor Lighting in RASC Dark-sky Preserves and IDA Dark Sky Places (RASC-DSP-GOL, IDA-DSP-GOL)” and applies these guidelines to our specific site. 2. Sources Sources used in the creation of this document:

Guidelines for Outdoor Lighting in RASC Dark-Sky Preserves and IDA Dark Sky Places (RASC-DSP-GOL, IDA-DSP-GOL)

Copper Breaks State Park—Outdoor Lighting Management Plan

3. Rationale “Most people take nighttime lighting for granted” (RASC-IDA). This statement is indeed true, as humans have become accustomed to having areas they frequent at night illuminated. Proper nighttime lighting, if guided by a strong lightscape management plan that defines purpose, acceptable lighting conditions, and proper light selection and placement, will allow for proper security and facility use while helping maintain views of our night skies. The following sections are taken from the RASC-IDA document that is noted in the previous section.

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3.1 Crime

The most prevalent reason given for nighttime lighting is to reduce crime in cities. This is generally based on the notion that more light improves visibility, and that this visibility discourages criminals. Based on before and after studies of crime statistics, there is no clear evidence that outdoor lighting reduces crime1. Although there are no anecdotal reports that “improved lighting” (i.e. improved visibility) reduces crime2, there is no evidence that crime is reduced with “more or better lighting”3. In some cases crime was simply displaced, or the altered lighting was prompted by or caused a change in use of the streets by “...strengthening informal social control and community cohesion”4 and this may have affected the pattern of crime. There are different types of crime. Theft is more prevalent during daytime hours, violent crime occurs more often in the evening and after midnight5. Anecdotal studies report that most property crime occurs during the day and violent crime is usually between persons that know each other. The public’s belief in the prevalence of random violence is not proven by the research. There was an unconfirmed report that the brightly lit City of Manila found violent crime was more preva-lent after dark and the presence of police was effective at reducing nighttime crime. The city lights were not the deterrent to crime. In a lengthy Report to Congress, by the National Institute of Justice6 it is stated that there is no evidence that artificial lighting deters crime. It reports that most studies are poorly de-signed, without controls, which undermines any conclusions to the contrary. They state that: “We can have very little confidence that improved lighting prevents crime”. It further reports that lighting can assist in the crime by putting the victim on display. The feeling of safety provided by the light may have the oppo-site effect. Vandalism provides an example of the opposite effect of securing lighting than is generally believed. Stud-ies conclude that lighted areas are more subject to vandalism and graffiti. Anecdotal evidence7 and more focused studies8 support the policy of turning lights off when security staff is not around. Apparently, van-dals want to see the results of damage and for others to see it. When lights are off, there is less gratification in vandalizing an area or painting graffiti. 1 The Influence of Street Lighting on Crime and Fear of Crime, Prevention Unit Paper No. 28, Stephen Atkins, Sohail Husain, and Angele Storey, 1991, ISBM 0 86252 668 X 2 Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime: A Systematic Review, Home Office Research Study 251, by David P. Farrington and Brandon C. Welsh, August 2002 3 The Indiana Council on Outdoor Lighting Education (ICOLE), P.O. Box 17351, Indianapolis, IN 46217 4 ibid, page 2 5 www.bpap.org/bpap/research/DCA_briefing_dtd.pdf 6 National Institute of Justice Grant Number 96MUMU0019 (www.ncjrs.gov/works/) 7 “Darkened Streetlights Fail to Raise Crime Rate”, Des Moines Register, T. Alex and T. Paluch, May 6, 2004 www.dmregister.com 8 Effects of improved street lighting on crime: a systematic review, Home Office Research Study 251, August 2002

3.1 Crime

The most prevalent reason given for nighttime lighting is to reduce crime in cities. This is generally based on the notion that more light improves visibility, and that this visibility discourages criminals. Based on before and after studies of crime statistics, there is no clear evidence that outdoor lighting reduces crime1. Although there are no anecdotal reports that “improved lighting” (i.e. improved visibility) reduces crime2, there is no evidence that crime is reduced with “more or better lighting”3. In some cases crime was simply displaced, or the altered lighting was prompted by or caused a change in use of the streets by “...strengthening informal social control and community cohesion”4 and this may have affected the pattern of crime. There are different types of crime. Theft is more prevalent during daytime hours, violent crime occurs more often in the evening and after midnight5. Anecdotal studies report that most property crime occurs during the day and violent crime is usually between persons that know each other. The public’s belief in the prevalence of random violence is not proven by the research. There was an unconfirmed report that the brightly lit City of Manila found violent crime was more preva-lent after dark and the presence of police was effective at reducing nighttime crime. The city lights were not the deterrent to crime. In a lengthy Report to Congress, by the National Institute of Justice6 it is stated that there is no evidence that artificial lighting deters crime. It reports that most studies are poorly de-signed, without controls, which undermines any conclusions to the contrary. They state that: “We can have very little confidence that improved lighting prevents crime”. It further reports that lighting can assist in the crime by putting the victim on display. The feeling of safety provided by the light may have the oppo-site effect. Vandalism provides an example of the opposite effect of securing lighting than is generally believed. Stud-ies conclude that lighted areas are more subject to vandalism and graffiti. Anecdotal evidence7 and more focused studies8 support the policy of turning lights off when security staff is not around. Apparently, van-dals want to see the results of damage and for others to see it. When lights are off, there is less gratification in vandalizing an area or painting graffiti. 1 The Influence of Street Lighting on Crime and Fear of Crime, Prevention Unit Paper No. 28, Stephen Atkins, Sohail Husain, and Angele Storey, 1991, ISBM 0 86252 668 X 2 Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime: A Systematic Review, Home Office Research Study 251, by David P. Farrington and Brandon C. Welsh, August 2002 3 The Indiana Council on Outdoor Lighting Education (ICOLE), P.O. Box 17351, Indianapolis, IN 46217 4 ibid, page 2 5 www.bpap.org/bpap/research/DCA_briefing_dtd.pdf 6 National Institute of Justice Grant Number 96MUMU0019 (www.ncjrs.gov/works/) 7 “Darkened Streetlights Fail to Raise Crime Rate”, Des Moines Register, T. Alex and T. Paluch, May 6, 2004 www.dmregister.com 8 Effects of improved street lighting on crime: a systematic review, Home Office Research Study 251, August 2002

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3.2 Human Lighting Needs Humans are predominantly a daytime species. Although we can see at night, our vision is significantly re-duced compared to the daytime. In the past, starlight provided sufficient levels of illumination for most ac-tivities. However our modern fast paced and mechanized activity requires better visual acuity for driving cars, bicycles and avoiding urban hazards. Some artificial lighting may be required for nighttime activities, but this lighting must be designed to in-crease visibility. Paradoxically, more light can sometimes reduce visibility, especially for persons over 40 years of age9. The average age of our population is increasing. Sensitivity to glare also increases with age, as does our chance of developing cataracts. In the face of a bright light, our iris constricts, letting light into the eye only through the centre of our lens. Since cataracts begin in the centre of the lens, the vision of adults can be se-verely degraded by glare. With the aging of our population, it is becoming increasingly important to reduce glare in the urban environment. 3.3 Human Health This proliferation of outdoor lighting has a significant impact on the health and behavior of humans10. “Biological clocks control our sleep patterns, alertness, mood, physical strength, blood pressure, and other aspects of our physiology”11. The dominant mechanism for synchronizing this biological clock to our activ-ity (the circadian rhythm) is the daynight contrast and the timely release of the hormone melatonin. This hormone regulates the ebb and flow of other hormones in our bodies. These “repair the damage” we do to our bodies each day. Without the proper release of these hormones, healing takes longer and our bodies are less able to fend off disease12. The timing of the circadian rhythm also affects our behaviour. For example, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is an emotional condition experienced by travellers and others. The symptoms can be reduced with exposure to bright light13 as it shifts (or entrains) and resets our biological clock. If this entrainment occurs during the late evening or at night due to artificial outdoor lighting, the biochemistry that controls our physiological well-being will also be shifted away from the proper daytime hours. 9 Work, Aging, and Vision: Report of a Conference, ISBN-10: 0-309-07793-1 10 Light Research Organization, Electric Power Research Institute, (www.epri.com/LRO/index.html) 11 WebMD, March 06, 2007, www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20040908/light-at-night-may-be-linked-tocancer 12 “Light at night and cancer risk”, Schernhammer E, et.al., Photochem Photobiol. 2004 Apr;79(4):316-8. 13 “Shutting Off the Night”, H. Marano, Psychology Today, Sep/Oct 2002

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3.4 Environmental Health Although many people are familiar with the activity of the natural world during the day (i.e., photobiology), few people are as familiar with similar activity at night. Humans are not the only species whose biological clock is controlled by day-night contrasts and the release of melatonin. It is found in plants and animals wherein it plays a similar role14. Wildlife depends on the darkness of the night, and the study of this de-pendence is called “scotobiology”. Research into the nocturnal environment is relatively recent compared to research into the daytime envi-ronment. Consequently there is far less published literature documenting the sensitivity of the general nighttime ecology to artificial lighting. Most of the research is on specific species in the wild or laboratory studies. However, mounting scientific evidence is documenting the profound impact of artificial light on the ecology of the night. Plants are affected by the colour and duration of lighting. Whether the effects are considered beneficial or not depends on the desired outcome. Generally, artificial lighting will change the natural growth patterns and may affect the resistance of plants to infestations and disease. Many plants respond to the length of the day and normally recognize it as an indication of the season. By extending light past the evening, may slow the plant’s biochemistry from changing to prepare for winter15. The various effects of color, duration, type of plant, etc. make sweeping conclusions impossible however, they indicate that changing the lighting envi-ronment will change the natural ecology of the area. 14 “Lighting for the Human Circadian Clock”, S. M. Pauley, Medical Hypotheses (2004) 63,588–596 15 Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, C. Rich, T. Longcore, Island Press, 2006, Pg. 405

3.5 Animal Behavior Artificial sky glow extends well beyond the city boundaries. Therefore in considering urban outdoor light-ing, we must also consider its impact on rural areas in the region. Exposure to short periods of bright illumination (less than a minute) does not seem to affect the biological rhythm in animals16. However, longer exposures to light can shift (or entrain) their circadian rhythm and modify their behavioural patterns. Minimizing the duration of exposure to artificial light is necessary to limit its impact. Seasonal variations will shift the time of sunset by over four hours (from roughly 16:30 in winter to 21:00 in summer). During the peak of Park activities in summer, the time of sunset can vary by two hours. In ad-dition to this, dusk can extend the daylight by as much as an hour.

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Artificial lighting changes the nighttime behavior of species17. Over a month, the changing phases of the Moon affect the ground illumination at night. Nocturnal mammals adapt their behavior over the month in response to moonlight to avoid predators. This behavior includes, in part, limiting the foraging area and carrying food back to their shelters instead of eating it in the field. This latter adaptation limits how much they can eat18. Predator and prey behaviour depends on the darkness of the night19. Illumination levels that significantly affect wildlife are believed to be at the level of the full Moon, although the effect begins to be evident at lower light levels20. To put this in context, it is generally recommended by the IESNA that an urban parking lot be lighted to more than 100 timesthis level. It is well documented that some insects are drawn towards light sources. This interrupts their normal mat-ing and foraging activities and it concentrates them within a small area thus enhancing predation21. They may swarm the light fixture until they are exhausted. The resulting pile of insects must then be cleaned up22. Animals separated from their normal foraging grounds by an illuminated road cannot see the area beyond the lights. They can be temporarily blinded by headlights from passing cars. Their natural instinct is to wait until they can see where they are going. This can leave them in the open and vulnerable to preda-tion. They may abandon their established foraging patterns for new ones, which will impact other species as they compete for resources23. 16 Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, C. Rich, T. Longcore, Island Press, 2006, Pg. 24 17 The Urban Wildlands Group (www.urbanwildlands.org/abstracts.html) 18 Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, C. Rich, T. Longcore, Island Press, 2006, Pg. 28 19 ibid., Chapter 2 20 ibid., Chapter 11 21 ibid., Chapter 13 22 Communication with Parks Canada, 2008 23 Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, C. Rich, T. Longcore, Island Press, 2006

3.6 Shorelines Historically, waterways have been used for transportation and recreation. However, they are also impor-tant ecosystems that support wildlife in the water and on the lands adjacent to the shoreline. Shoreline property is valued by our society and this is causing human developments along rivers and around lakes. An increasing number of properties have shoreline lighting that illuminates the waterway. This impacts the river and lakes in two ways. From the human stand point; bright lights along the shoreline make it very difficult to navigate the channel. Glare from unshielded shoreline lighting prevents our eyes from becoming adapted to the darkness. At night, a boater will only be able to see the points of light along the shore rendering the channel markers and out-of-channel hazards very difficult to see. Clearly, glare along the shoreline results in a safety hazard that should be corrected.

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The second impact is on the fish and aquatic plants24. The effect of light on fish is not clear. Fish are at-tracted to the light from their natural feeding depths. The increase in the concentration of fish changes the hunting efficiency of predators. Although the behavior of the nocturnal predator may not be compromised by artificial light, the ability of its prey to recognize the danger and to escape will affect their survival25. 24 Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, C. Rich, T. Longcore, Island Press, 2006, Part V 25 Skyglow and Zooplanktin, eg. Moore et al, 2001

3.7 Cultural Impact There is a cultural imperative to protect the darkness of the night sky. Throughout recorded history (about 6,000 years) astronomy has been a focus of stories and mythologies. Those who have seen a dark sky are impressed by the serene majesty of the celestial sphere. It comes as no surprise that all civilizations have the constellations and asterisms woven into their culture. After stepping outside from a lighted room and under a dark rural sky, our initial count of a few stars with photopic vision increases a hundred fold after only 10 minutes. This may increase by another order of mag-nitude after less than an hour as our eyes become fully dark-adapted. However, urban sky glow over-whelms the faint stars, and the glare from discrete light fixtures prevents our eyes from becoming dark-adapted. These limit the number of stars we can see from many thousands to only a few hundred. Our cur-rent generation is the first for whom much less than half the population has seen a star-filled night sky. Most children have never seen the Milky Way. 3.8 Summary Generally there is limited research on the environmental benefits and costs of artificial lighting. In the ab-sence of clear conclusions, the best policy is to minimize its effects on the ecosystem. Studies have been published that present conflicting conclusions about outdoor lighting and the reduction of crime. The fact that these studies cannot reach a consensus undermines the argument that more light makes a safer environment. It has not been shown that the cost of lamping, or re-lamping, large areas of a city will result in reduced crime. Yet, the cost of lighting an area may cause funds to be redirected away from other more effective measures. There is growing medical evidence for the degradation of human health with the illumination of the night. The reduction in day-night contrast can uncouple the circadian rhythm from our normal daytime activities that may cause an increase in chronic diseases. It is clearly shown in published research, that artificial outdoor lighting affects ecology by disrupting food webs. Although the actual mechanism for this disruption is not always clear, this does not weaken the evi-dence for the damaging impact of artificial light on the ecosystem and the need to minimize it.

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Education is the key to correcting this degradation of the nocturnal environment by our nighttime culture. As the main source of light pollution, cities are key components in education and solving this problem. Es-tablishing Dark-sky Preserves and Dark Sky Places are an obvious way to help inform the public about the virtues of a dark night. Artificial lighting that is installed for human activity is altering the natural environment. This environ-mental degradation continues without resistance, and is indeed supported by human nighttime culture. Primarily due to ignorance, our civic policies and the legal system are strongly biased in favour of human demands. New research is revealing how artificial lighting degrades both human health and the health of wildlife within and well outside our cities. Wildlife has no voice in law and cannot control their environ-ment. We must act on their behalf. Cities must take action and advocate against change in their environ-ment. 4. Guidelines for Outdoor Lighting There are several facilities that may be within a DSP. The illumination levels for these facilities are summa-rized in tables for each area and application. The rationales for the limits in these tables are provided in Section 3. Before determining what type of lighting should be installed or retrofitted, it is important to ask the basic question "Is the lighting necessary?". If no valid reason for lighting can be found, it is better to remove the current lighting than replacing it with better technology. Don't assume that the mere fact that lighting is currently installed means that there was or currently is a valid reason to light the area. This section provides guidelines that should be followed to minimize light pollution within a Park. Similar fixture hardware is recommended to minimize the inventory for repairs or replacement. Where necessary for basic safety and navigation: 1. Illumination should be to the minimum practical level, 2. The affected area of illumination should be as small as practical, 3. The duration of the illumination should be as short as practical, and 4. Illumination should minimize the amount of short wavelength spectral content including UV and blue light (avoid cool or wide spectrum white light). What is “practical” depends upon the specific facilities in the area and the technology available at that time.

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Illumination levels specified in this document are lower than urban areas for which most luminaires have been designed. This restricts the type of light sources that may be used. Although High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps are very efficient, they may emit more light than is recommended in these guidelines. To ad-dress this, relatively inefficient, incandescent lights may be used for short periods of time or more ad-vanced Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps may be installed. These guidelines address the use of the facility and expected pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Eleven specific facilities and areas are identified with a range of lighting conditions that reflect their varied use. Priority is given to respecting and protecting the natural environment. Park managers have the discretion to assess what levels are most appropriate for each facility within the limits outlined in Section 3 of this document. Lighting is limited to provide only what is required for navi-gation in built up areas. The artificial lighting is restricted to these areas and for the periods of human ac-tivity unless otherwise noted. “Dark Time” is a term used in some parks to identify the end of significant activity within an area. This term is used herein to identify when light should be discouraged. In this document Dark Time is further assumed as being 2-hours after sunset. The following tenets have been used in developing these specifications. 1. Buildings require illumination only when open or available to people. After the office is closed to the public, all lighting visible from the outside should be turned off or covered. 2. To save energy and minimize the duration and extent of light pollution, lighted pathways should be illu-minated only when pedestrians are in transit. All reasonable effort should be made to turn off lighting when pedestrian traffic is low or is no longer expected. 3. To minimize the impact of artificial lighting on the ecosystem, the areas covered by this specification should only provide a safe transition between lighted structures and the surrounding unlighted area and to assist in navigation. 4. To minimize the extent of light pollution, the area of illumination should be strictly limited. 5. To limit the duration of light exposure on the ecosystem and to save energy, light activated timing cir-cuits should turn off outdoor lighting. The time delay should begin at sunset and should extend to an ap-propriate time into the evening to permit scheduled activity to end. 6. Where vehicle and pedestrian traffic is at a low speed or infrequent, retro-reflective signage should be used instead of installed lighting fixtures.

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4.1 Buildings This section identifies six types of structures that may require illumination within a park. In all cases, full cut-off (FCO) luminaires should be used and illumination should be controlled to prevent light scattering beyond the immediate area of the light fixture. Further, the color of this light should have minimal UV and blue (short wavelength) content and dark time lighting curfews should apply. Interior and exterior lighting that remains on for extended periods after operating hours not only wastes energy but can also be a nuisance. Insects are attracted to exterior building lights and interior lighting that shines through windows. In addition to the need for cleaning up dead flies before the building opens in the morning for the public, the light distracts insects from their normal activity. Outdoor illumination from in-door lighting is approximately equivalent to the natural illumination 30-minutes after sunset (Ref. Measurements by author). After this time effort should be made to shield indoor lighting. This document uses five classifications for buildings: • Administration Buildings, • Public Buildings, • Retail Outlets, • Vending Machine Enclosures, and Toilet and Washroom Facilities 4.1.1 Administration Buildings Park administration buildings are defined as those with private offices and will generally be closed after dark. Illumination of the main doorway and especially any steps leading to the main door may be required after sunset in the early spring, late autumn and winter. After hours, either all interior lighting should be turned off, or window and door blinds should be used to prevent interior light from shining outside. Light activated timing circuits should turn off all outdoor lighting within 30 minutes of the office being closed. Manual reset switches may be used to extend this period for late-working staff. 4.1.2 Public Buildings Public buildings are defined as those open to the public during business hours and may also contain private offices. Due to the public nature of these buildings with high pedestrian traffic, exterior illumination may be higher than for park administration buildings. After hours, either all interior lighting should be turned off, or window and door blinds should be used to prevent interior light from shining outside. All outdoor lighting should be turned off within 30 minutes of the office being closed. Exterior lighting should be lim-ited to the main door area and steps (if any). Light activated timing circuits should turn the lighting on after sunset and off after a period of time specified by Park manager and subject to the building use. Manual re-set switches or motion detectors may be used to extend this period by a pre-programmed duration.

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4.1.3 Retail Outlets It is assumed retail stores will have higher pedestrian traffic than most other areas while they remain open for business after dark. Window coverings should be used so that interior lighting will not shine outside 30 minutes after sunset. Exterior light is permitted, and restricted to, the area around the door using Full Cut-off (FCO) fixtures. All exterior lighting should be turned off within 30 minutes after business hours. 4.1.4 Vending Machines Vending machines should be located in an enclosed space and their lights should not shine directly outside through doorways or windows. Where practical, these machines should be enclosed in existing public buildings. Figure 4.1.4 shows an example of a dedicated vending machine enclosure. Only FCO fixtures should be used to illuminate the area outside the entrances. The extent of this outside illuminated ground area is restricted to less than 5 meters from the entrance. Light from vending machines is usually from a number of fluorescent tubes behind the translucent display and may emit significant amounts of UV and blue light. This light undermines dark adaptation and attracts flying insects. Therefore, the illumination levels outside these enclosures may be higher than for other buildings to allow the transition for visitors from the bright interior to the dark surroundings. Doorway lighting should be turned off within two hours after sunset. Interior lighting may remain on at the owner’s discretion.

*The wattage for individual lamp types are not specified due to differences in efficacy, Park Managers should consult Appendix C for guidance in meeting the recommended illumination level in all tables in Section 4. **Note: 2 Lux (0.2 fc) = illumination of dusk about 20 minutes after sunset

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4.1.5 Toilet and Washroom Facilities Toilet and washroom facilities should be available throughout the night. If illuminated, Full Cut-off (FCO) fixtures should be used to illuminate the entrance and any steps leading to the doorway. If deemed neces-sary by Park managers, these structures may have a non-cutoff marker light by the door. This marker light should be the lowest practical wattage. For example, a small 15-watt incandescent lamp can be easily seen for 200 metres. Alternatively, a 1w red or amber LED fixture may be used. Interior lighting in these facilities must also be considered. Excessive interior lighting levels can produce serious glare that impairs exterior visibility if windows are present. Interior lighting should use bug light or yellow color whenever possible and lighting levels as measured horizontally at the floor should not exceed 10 lux (1 fc). 4.2 Parking Lots Generally, parking lots have less traffic at night than during the day. Parking lots may require lighting due to scheduled after-dusk activities. This lighting will be necessary until gate closure or Dark Time, which-ever occurs first. Where required, pole mounted Full Cut-off (FCO) luminaires should be placed one pole height from the ex-treme corners of the parking lot and distributed evenly along the perimeter with an approximate pole spacing of no less than 4-times the luminaire height. Their light distribution pattern should be “full for-ward” and aimed into the lot. This is symbolically shown in Figure 4.2. If necessary, poles may be located within the parking lot area. Retro reflective markers should be fixed to the poles extending from ground level up to approximately one metre (3.3 feet) to increase visibility for motorists while backing up. 4.2.1 Administration Parking Lots Administrative personnel will generally leave when offices close. Luminaires in administration parking lots should be turned off within 30 minutes of the office closure. A timing circuit should control the lights with a manual reset for employees working late. 4.2.2 Visitor Parking Lots (Small) Generally small lots (less than 10 cars) experience little traffic and should not be illuminated. 4.2.3 Visitor Parking Lots (Large) Larger parking lots (spaces for approximately more than 10 cars) may require better visibility than smaller lots. These lots may be illuminated at the discretion of the Park manager. However illumination levels should not exceed the limits listed in Table 4.2.

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4.3 Roadways Intersections are some of the most dangerous areas for drivers. Drivers of high-speed vehicles require suf-ficient time to react when they approach an intersection. Therefore, major intersections should be marked with signage or luminaires. Illumination of adjacent areas should be minimized. Due to a park-wide speed limit of 25mph, and relatively low volume of traffic through the park after dark, roadways will not be illuminated. No roadway signage will be illuminated unless state highway regulations call for such.

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4.4 Pathways Pathways and sidewalks provide a relatively level surface for pedestrian traffic, and aid in site navigation. Visibility is necessary for navigation but excessive illumination will prevent pedestrians from seeing off the path. Although visitors use flashlights, additional pathway lighting may be required to guide visitors to public facilities. Paths are also used by wildlife. Therefore, pathway lighting should be restricted to only those paths near buildings, parking lots and campgrounds, and only those paths that the Park Manager considers appropri-ate should be illuminated. Since overhead FCO luminaires will illuminate areas much wider than the path, low wattage bollard light-ing should be used such that the bollard-mounted lights are directed down and along the path. The fixture should be FCO and shielded or lensed such that the illumination pattern is approximately limited to the path width. Pathways should use white or light colored crushed stone (limestone) instead of asphalt to help reflect am-bient light. Retro reflective or passive fluorescent markers may also be used to mark the extent and direc-tion of the pathway. These may be mounted on bollards or in the pathway surface. Generally, individuals walking along a pathway will have left the area after a minute or so (a distance of 30 metres) unless they remain for an activity. To minimize unnecessary light exposure, switches with timing circuits may be used manually to activate the lighting and to automatically turn them off after a few min-utes. Proximity detectors should be installed at the entrances to pathways. The closeness of the luminaires to the ground necessitates very low intensity lights. This limits the current products available to low wattage incandescent lamps and LEDs. These guidelines for pathway lighting can be reduced to four points. 1. Whenever possible pathways in the DSP should not be illuminated. If deemed absolutely necessary by the Park manager, specific pathways may be illuminated or lined with fluorescent markers. 2. Illuminated pathways should have full cut-off bollard mounted lighting fixtures. 3. Pathway lighting should be turned off at the Dark Time lighting curfew. Retroreflective markers on the bollards may assist pedestrians after Dark Time. 4. Main pathways leading to night facilities may be illuminated throughout the night at the discretion of the Park manager.

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The only pathway that will be illuminated will be the pathway from the main entrance of the Visitor Center to the parking lot. Bollard lights are used that direct the light down onto a white concrete sidewalk. These lights will shut off along with the Visitor Center parking lot pole lights at dark time. 4.5 Shoreline Areas Shoreline areas consist of docks, jetties, lock facilities, boat launching areas, beaches, homes, cottages and undeveloped lands. The direct illumination of the shallow water near shore alters the behavior of aquatic species and the foraging patterns of landed species and insects. This document provides guidance to Park managers for reducing the impact of lighting along a waterway. These guidelines are relatively general due to the limited authority of Park managers over some of these properties. 1. Park personnel should inform the owners and users of shoreline property of the impact artificial light has on the ecology of the water and adjacent lands. 2. The public should be advised to shield all outdoor lighting to comply with Full Cut-off (FCO) require-ments and to turn off this lighting when they go to bed. 3. Shoreline lighting should consist of amber or red light with no UV and blue spectral content. Blue and white lights should not be permitted. 4. Light fixtures should be prohibited within ten metres (33 feet) of a shoreline unless they are deemed necessary by the Park manager. Overhead luminaires that shine into the water should not be permitted. 5. Where shoreline lighting is permitted, it should have Full Cut-off (FCO) fixtures with low wattage amber or red light. Shielded bollard lighting with incandescent or LEDs should be used where dock managers have identified their need. High traffic areas and near machinery (lock facilities) may require higher levels of illumination at the discretion of the Park manager if machinery is operated after dark.

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4.6 Signage Signs within a Park are essential to the efficient navigation of the site. They may display three forms of in-formation: names for sites or buildings (usually mounted in proximity to buildings or other structures), di-rections (located along roadways or pathways and their intersections) and those meant to convey other information (located to the side of roadways and pathways). Illuminated signs should be prohibited in a DSP. These include, but are not limited to, internally illumi-nated signs, signs illuminated from below and above the sign, and in front of the sign. To improve the visi-bility of signs after dark, their location, colour scheme, and material should permit reading the sign with flashlights or existing lighting. Retro-reflective signage should be used to ensure signs are visible only when necessary. Signs may be mounted on or near buildings such that exterior building lighting may provide some illumination, and they should use colours consistent with retro-reflective materials and illumination with flashlights. Signs should be located so pedestrians can easily see them. Elevated signs are less likely to be illuminated by Full Cut-off (FCO) luminaires. Pathway and information signs should be located less than one metre above the grade of the path so that they may be found and read by pedestrians with flashlights after dark. Signs mounted at a higher elevation may be missed as flashlights are aimed at the ground. All bollards should be marked with retroreflective material so they may be visible to pedestrians after Dark Time. Roadway signs should be mounted in accordance with standard roadway practice.

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4.7 Light Pollution Abatement Beyond Park Boundaries As with air and water pollution, light pollution has no boundaries. It is only reduced by increasing the dis-tance to the source. Some cities are actively promoting the replacement of luminaires that contribute to sky glow but these policies are not wide spread. Parks may influence the producers of air and water pollution that passes through Parks. This influence should be extended to include light pollution. • Park managers should introduce and encourage programs of light pollution abatement in municipalities around the Park facilities with the goal of reducing glare across Park boundaries and sky glow from artifi-cial lighting. • Park managers should approach individuals whose lights shine onto Park facilities. The goal of these con-tacts is to have those lights shielded, reduced in brightness or removed. 5. SRSP Lighting Guidelines This section will highlight the implementation of this plan to current facilities within Staunton River State Park, and describes any deviations from the general plan, if any. This section applies to only the current facilities located in the park. All future facilities will be built in compliance with all guidelines set forth in Section 4. In addition to all guidelines, all facility lighting in Staunton River State Park that exceeds 600 lumens is required to be fully shielded. 5.1 Buildings 5.1.1 Administration Buildings District Office Upon the closing of this office, all interior lights will be shut off. A Full Cut-Off doorway light will re-

main on at the main entrance to this building (law-enforcement activity may require entry into this building, therefore the doorway light will remain on to assist with entry). Parking lot lights will be dis-cussed later in section 5.2.

Maintenance Shop Exterior parking lot flood lights are shielded with PARShield deflectors and are motion sensor con-

trolled. One switch-controlled recessed light fixture is located under the roof above shop entrance door. It is

only used when after-dark activities are occurring at the shop and is turned off after hours. Park Staff Residences All exterior lights are shielded or Full Cut-Off fixtures. Lights are only used when necessary to provide

entryway illumination and are otherwise off. Park staff understand the importance of dark sky preser-

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5.1.2 Public Buildings Visitor Center Typical operating hours for the Visitor Center are 8am-10:00pm Memorial Day—Labor Day, and 8am-

4:30pm the remainder of the year. The Visitor Center houses park offices, Interpretive Classroom, con-ference room, Gift Shop, and is where overnight guests register for cabins and campsites.

Current lighting includes wall sconces at entry doors, bollard lights along sidewalk to parking lot, and pole mounted Full Cut-Off parking lot lights. Sidewalk lights and parking lot lights are discussed later in section 5.2.

After business hours, all interior lights will be turned off. The public restroom access, which remains accessible 24 hours a day, will have the foyer light on, with window blinds closed on the foyer window to reduce the amount of light emanating from this fixture. Bathroom lights are motion activated and turn off after 5 minutes of last detected movement.

Wall sconces are Full Cut-Off fixtures utilizing 18-watt, 2700K compact fluorescent bulbs. These lights are triggered by a dusk-to-dawn photoelectric cell. These lights, due to their low temperature and be-ing Full Cut-Off as well as to facilitate after-hours overnight guest check-in, will remain on. No other exterior lighting will remain on overnight.

Rental Cabins All exterior lighting fixtures on rental cabins are Full Cut-Off fixtures that use 13-watt compact fluores-

cent bug lights (yellow in color). These lights are located at the entrance doors to the cabins. Literature in cabin information books discusses the importance of dark sky preservation, as well as the efforts the park has undertaken to preserve our dark skies, and encourages park guests to only use the lights when absolutely necessary.

Swimming Pool Complex Two fully-shielded wallpack security lights are located on the pool building, which houses the conces-

sion stand and bathhouse. These lights are on a dusk-to-dawn photoelectric sensor, and are operated during the Memorial Day—Labor Day season during which the swimming pool is operated. Outside of this season, lighting will be turned off.

5.1.3 Toilet and Washroom Facilities Campground All interior lighting is motion-sensor controlled and shuts off after 5 minutes of no detected movement. Full Cut-Off ceiling-mounted lights are located above each restroom door to illuminate the entrance. Picnic Area Restrooms All interior lighting is motion-sensor controlled and shuts off after 5 minutes of no detected movement. Full Cut-Off wallpack lights are placed above the entrance doors to the restroom facilities. These lights

are controlled by a dusk-to-dawn sensor to illuminate restroom entrances.

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Equestrian Campground All interior lighting is motion-sensor controlled and shuts off after 5 minutes of no detected movement. Full Cut-Off lighting is used to illuminate the entrance doors to the restrooms and showers. These

lights are controlled by a dusk-to-dawn photoelectric sensor. 5.2 Parking Lots Swimming Pool Complex Pole-mounted flood lights are located around the pool complex parking lot. The pool complex, during

the operating season, is open from 10am—6pm, so these lights are not needed. While these lights still exist, they have been disconnected and are not operational. Should major operational changes occur to where these lights are again needed, fixtures will be upgraded to become compliant with this plan prior to the lights going back into service.

District Office Historically, this building housed the park office, which included the gift shop and guest registration

area. Since the usage has changed, so has the need for exterior lighting. Four cobra-head pole-mounted lights are located around the perimeter of the parking lot. Since this building is only used during day-light, these lights have been disconnected. Should the need arise to use these lights in the future, fix-tures will be upgraded to become compliant with this plan prior to the lights going back into service.

Visitor Center (12 parking spaces) Full Cut-Off, full forward, pole-mounted lights are located around the Visitor Center parking lot perime-

ter. These are used to illuminate the parking lot for guests coming to the Visitor Center after dark. These lights are controlled by a photoelectric sensor, as well as a timer. They are set to come on at dusk and turn off at closing hours during the Memorial Day—Labor Day season, and set to turn off at 9:00pm the remainder of the year. The decision to leave these lights on until this time was made for guest safety. During the “off-season” SRSP has more after-hours overnight guest check-ins than during the “main-season,” and to facilitate guests with finding their check-in packet, parking lot lights will be left on until 9:00pm.

Dan River Boat Ramp Cobra-head lights are placed in the parking lot of the Dan River Boat Ramp, at the fee self-payment sta-

tion, and at the top of the boat ramp. Throughout the year this facility has a large amount of use after dark, to include night-time fishing and boating, pre-dawn launch of duck hunters, overnight fishing tournaments, etc. Due to the amount of use and the illumination needed for the safe launching and take-out of boats, as well as to make necessary tie-down and securing of boats to trailers prior to departure, these lights will remain on a dusk-to-dawn photoelectric sensor. Low wattage bulbs and shielded fix-tures will be used to provide no more light than is necessary and direct it downward.

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5.3 Roadways

A Full Cut-Off pole-mounted light will be illuminated at the park contact station. This light is needed to illu-minate the self-payment system for parking and park rules for those entering the park after dark. Any spe-cial notices to park guests will also be placed at this location, so having enough light for these purposes is required. No other roadway illumination will be installed in Staunton River State Park. 5.4 Pathways The sidewalk from the Visitor Center to the parking lot is the only illuminated pathway in Staunton River State Park. Shielded bollards are installed alongside this pathway. Due to the bollards being wired on the same circuit as the Visitor Center parking lot lights, they will follow the same schedule. Should additional pathway lighting become a necessity, it will be installed in accordance with guidelines listed in section 4.4 of the Lightscape Management Plan. 5.5 Shoreline Areas Two lights exist near shorelines at Staunton River State Park. These lights are placed so that light does not shine on the nearby bodies of water. Staunton River Area—A shielded globe light is located near the Staunton River Picnic Shelter. This area

is a popular night-fishing area, and the light was installed to assist park rangers in surveillance of the area. This light has been shielded so as to direct light straight down, and does not shine on the water.

Dan River Boat Ramp—A shielded cobra-head style pole mount light is located on the uphill end of the boat dock. This light was installed to assist boaters when launching or removing boats after dark. This light is fully shielded to direct all light straight down and not onto the water.

5.6 Signage No park signage is illuminated, nor is there a need for illuminated signage in the park. Road signs are retro-reflective to assist motorists/pedestrians after dark. Placement of park signage is regulated and adheres to the Virginia State Parks Sign Manual.

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Staunton River State Park Lighting Inventory

All cabin exterior lighting was upgraded to the fixtures illustrated on the left in December 2014. Fixtures are shielded and downward-facing, and are mounted either above or di-rectly beside entry doors to provide light to cabin doors with the minimal amount of light necessary.

Cabin Area

Location Fixture Application Fully

Shielded Special Purpose

<600 Lumens Conformity with LMP

Cabin 1 - Front Door 13W CFL

Wall Mount Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

Cabin 1 - Back Door 13W CFL










Cabin 4 - Entry Door 13W CFL






Cabin 6 - Entry Door 13W CFL









Wall Mount

Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

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** - These lights do not conform to the SRSP Lightscape Management Plan, however, they have been discon-nected due to change of use for this building and they are no longer needed. Should these lights be needed in the future, fixtures will be upgraded for LMP conformity.

Administration Buildings




Visitor Center - Exterior Wall Sconces (5 Fixtures)

18W 2700K CFL - Wall Mount


Visitor Center - Sidewalk Bollards (5 Fixtures) 50W HID

Sidewalk Lighting Yes No Yes

Visitor Center - Parking Lot Pole Lights (5 Fixtures)

Pole-Mounted FCO HPS

Parking Area Lighting Yes No Yes

District Office - Front and Back Entry Doors (4 Fix-

tures) HPS Wall Pack—

Shielded Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

District Office - Parking Lot Pole Lights (4 Fixtures)

Pole-Mounted Cobra- Head HPS

Parking Area Lighting No No No**

Maintenance Shop (2 Fixtures) PAR 38 CFL with PAR-

Shield Parking Area

Lighting Yes No Yes

Contact Station Pole-Mounted FCO

LED

Payment Area

Lighting Yes No Yes

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Park Staff Residences




District Manager Residence - Kitchen Entry Door

13W CFL Wall Mount


District Manager Residence - Living Room Entry Door

13W CFL Wall Mount


Park Manager Residence - Front Entry Door (2 Fixtures)

13W CFL Wall Mount


Park Manager Residence - Back Entry Door

13W CFL Wall Mount


Park Manager Residence - Exterior Flood Light 1

PAR 38 CFL with PAR-Shield


Park Manager Residence - Exterior Flood Light 2


Yard Area Lighting Yes No Yes

Assistant Manager Residence - Back Entry Door 13W CFL Wall Mount


Assistant Manager Residence - Front Entry Door 13W CFL Wall Mount


Assistant Manager Residence - Exterior Flood Lights



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**These lights do not conform to the SRSP Lightscape Management Plan, however, they have been discon-nected due to non-use. Should these lights be needed in the future, they will be upgraded with fixtures that conform to the LMP.

Day-Use Areas




Staunton River Boat Ramp Cobra-head HPS Security Lighting No No No

Staunton River Picnic Shelter Recessed Ceiling

Mount under roof Facility Lighting Yes No Yes

Swimming Complex (2 Fixtures) Wall-pack Exterior

Lights Security Lighting Yes No Yes

Swimming Complex Parking Lot Lights (4 fixtures)

Pole-Mounted Globe Fixture

Parking Lot Lighting No No No**

Picnic Area 1 Pole-Mounted FCO

LED Fixture Security Lighting Yes No Yes

Picnic Area 1 Bathhouse (2 fixtures) FCO Wall Mount Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

Picnic Area 2 Pole-Mounted FCO

LED Fixture Security Lighting Yes No Yes

Picnic Area 2 Bathhouse (2 fixtures) FCO Wall Mount Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

Dan River Boat Ramp (6 fixtures) Cobra-Head Fluores-

cent

Parking Lot Lighting No No No

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Campgrounds




Campground Bathhouse Restroom En-tries (2 fixtures) Shielded Fluorescent


Campground Bathhouse Storage Entry Shielded Fluorescent Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

Camping Lodge Porch Light 13W CFL FCO Wall

Mount Entryway Lighting Yes No Yes

Equestrian Campground Bathhouse (6 fixtures)

Fully Shielded Wall Mount CFL


Equestrian Stalls (4 fixtures) Solar Roof-Mounted

LED Stall Area Lighting No No No

Staunton River State Park Light Fixtures

Conform with LMP Do Not Conform with LMP

65 16

Percent Compliant: 80%

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Staunton River State Park’s Commitment to Dark Sky Preservation and Education The preservation of the dark skies at Staunton River State Park is of utmost importance. Staunton River State Park commits to using the Lightscape Management Plan set forth in this document to guide future de-velopment and improvements to the park and its facilities. All existing light fixtures that are not currently compliant with the Lightscape Management Plan will be replaced or retro-fitted to bring them into compli-ance per the following timetable: Dan River Boat Ramp—Spring of 2016 Staunton River Boat Ramp—Spring of 2016 Equestrian Stalls—Spring 2016 District Office Parking Lot—Spring of 2017 Swimming Complex Parking Lot—Spring of 2018 Conversions of these lights are spaced out over the next 3 years to spread costs across separate budget cycles. Education on all of the park’s natural resources, including its dark skies, will remain a driving force behind our operations. Park staff are expanding our dark sky education programming each year, and will continue to do so. Outreach into our surrounding communities will increase as well. Dark sky presentations will continue to be given to community leaders in hopes of improving town and county ordinances, and having the governmental bodies set the example of appropriate nighttime lighting and dark sky preservation for their jurisdictions. Park staff and volunteers have begun inventorying local businesses and will begin an educational push with them to reduce light pollution in nearby towns. Park staff, members of the Chapel Hill Astronomical Observation Society, and local government leaders have had preliminary discussions on developing a recognition program for area businesses whose facility lighting is compliant with IDA recom-mendations, and foresee this program encouraging more businesses to become dark sky friendly. We an-ticipate the start of this program later in 2015. Education not only to park guests, but to our community at large, will continue to be an important role of Staunton River State Park. Staunton River State Park began a night sky friendly lighting project in the fall of 2014. Park staff replaced the exterior light fixtures on the rental cabins with full-cutoff, wall-mounted, low wattage fixtures near the entry doors. Park staff residences were upgraded to include new full-cut off fixtures adjacent to entry doors, and all exterior floodlights were realigned downwards and retro-fitted with dark sky-friendly PARShields. The district office, swimming complex, and equestrian campground bathhouse fixtures were fitted with full cut-off shields so that they adhere to our Lightscape Management Plan. Having several types of conversions (replacement fixtures, PARShields, retro-fitting old fixtures with shields) gives us a unique opportunity for interpretation. We are using this project in our astronomy-related interpretive programming to teach park guests how they can become good stewards of our night skies. Park guests are being taught the importance of dark sky preservation, and during their stay at Staunton River State Park, they are able to see different methods we have used to ensure that our lighting needs are met without

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intrusion on the beautiful night sky. Our goal with this project was not only to enhance our night skies, but give our guests ideas for the enhancement of dark sky preservation that they can take home and easily im-plement themselves. This project has also become a model for our community and agency. As our agency begins moving forward with dark sky friendly policies, our lighting project will serve as the basis for guide-lines and recommendations on how to effectively retrofit a park. We are also able to show “real life” exam-ples of dark sky friendly lighting as we continue our outreach and education efforts in our community. Our sky quality monitoring program has also provided more unique interpretive opportunities. The re-sults of this monitoring are shared with park guests and our community to give them an understanding of how dark our skies really are. We can compare this data with readings from urban areas so that guests can really grasp the scale of darkness, and understand the importance of keeping Staunton River State Park dark. Staunton River State Park’s dark skies have been recognized as an important natural resource, and one that we are charged with protecting. The Resource Management Plan that guides the protection and preserva-tion of all resources found within Staunton River State Park includes the following language that mandates the protection of our dark skies:

E. Dark Sky Resource

Staunton River State Park has a unique resource in its extremely dark skies. Due to the degrada-

tion of this resource across the US, all efforts should be made to protect and enhance the dark sky

at Staunton River State Park. All future development and facility operations must use facility

lighting fixtures that conform to and light only areas specified by the Staunton River State Park

Lightscape Management Plan, found in Appendix EE. A timetable for converting any existing fa-

cility lighting so that it conforms to the Lightscape Management Plan is included in Appendix EE.

This timetable shall be referenced during annual budget development to ensure its completion.

Baseline sky quality measurements are also included in Appendix EE, and every effort should be

taken to maintain, if not enhance, these conditions. Sky quality measurements will be taken con-

tinuously through the sky quality meter located at the park Visitor Center and quarterly through-

out the park. Results will be compiled and examined by park staff to ensure the quality of the

park’s dark skies.

Note: All files referenced in “Appendix EE” in the Resource Management Plan are included in this application

document.

An effort is currently underway to continue to enhance the dark skies found in our region. While these projects are underway and have not yet yielded results that would currently satisfy Dark Sky Park require-ments, the results they will yield in the future should be extremely beneficial. Park staff, members of the Chapel Hill Astronomical Observation Society, and local community leaders have agreed to develop a rec-ognition plan for local businesses whose facility lighting is compliant with dark sky friendly guidelines.

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Press releases will be distributed for maximum exposure as each business is recognized, with hopes that this will encourage more businesses to come on-board. Meetings will take place over the coming months to fully develop this program, which we hope to have up and running later this year. Park staff will also be-gin inventorying local businesses that emit the highest amounts of light pollution, and will continue the education efforts with the owners and managers of these businesses to convince them of the importance of dark sky preservation. Steps will be outlined on how they can convert their facility lighting to reduce light pollution, as well as the benefits in security and utility fees this will bring them. Educational efforts are on-going, using the park’s facility lighting conversions as well as data from sky quality measurements in pres-entations to local tourism boards, town councils and boards of supervisors in adjacent counties, and local businesses in hopes of making dark sky preservation not just a Staunton River State Park effort, but an en-tire Southern Virginia effort. In addition to this, there are currently no state or county guidelines governing dark sky preservation. While the town of Halifax has adopted an ordinance requiring all new or replacement facility lighting to be fully shielded, the county itself has no such ordinance (SRSP is located about 17 miles from town limits). We will continue to work not only with local businesses in the recognition program, but with county lead-ers and state representatives to expand our efforts even further. Staunton River State Park is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the dark skies it has been blessed with having. All requirements of Dark Sky Parks will be maintained should it be so designated. All of the staff of Staunton River State Park thank you for consideration of this application for Dark Sky Park status.

Adam W. Layman Park Manager Staunton River State Park

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Printed in The Gazette-Virginian, October 10, 2014.

55

Printed in The Gazette-Virginian, October 22, 2014.

56

Printed in The Gazette-Virginian, November 17, 2014.

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58

Printed in The Gazette-Virginian, February 2, 2015.

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Acknowledgements The staff of Staunton River State Park would like to express our sincere gratitude to the following individu-als and organizations for their assistance in this project and continued support of Staunton River State Park and its dark skies: The Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society, and especially, Jayme Hanzak, President, CHAOS Leadership of Virginia State Parks, to include Craig Seaver, Director; Dave Collett, Interim Field Opera-

tions Manager; Tim Vest, District 5 Manager Molly Joseph Ward, Secretary of Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia Tim Kaine, US Senate Laura Greenleaf, Virginia IDA Nancy Pool and Mitzi Riddle, Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Carl Espy, Town Manager, Town of Halifax Rebecca Ramey, Events Coordinator, Town of Halifax Jim Halasz, County Administrator, Halifax County Brian Reasor, Raleigh Astronomy Club Jim Browder, Richmond Astronomical Society BJ Seamans, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative John Barentine, International Dark Sky Association

Documents

Staunton River State Park International Dark Sky Park ... · First Landing), Westmoreland, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, and Douthat State Parks on June 15, 1936. These original six